scholarly journals Using Poison Center Data for Postdisaster Surveillance

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 521-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Wolkin ◽  
Amy H. Schnall ◽  
Royal Law ◽  
Joshua Schier
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Poison Center ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe role of public health surveillance in disaster response continues to expand as timely, accurate information is needed to mitigate the impact of disasters. Health surveillance after a disaster involves the rapid assessment of the distribution and determinants of disaster-related deaths, illnesses, and injuries in the affected population. Public health disaster surveillance is one mechanism that can provide information to identify health problems faced by the affected population, establish priorities for decision makers, and target interventions to meet specific needs. Public health surveillance traditionally relies on a wide variety of data sources and methods. Poison center (PC) data can serve as data sources of chemical exposures and poisonings during a disaster. In the US, a system of 57 regional PCs serves the entire population. Poison centers respond to poison-related questions from the public, health care professionals, and public health agencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses PC data during disasters for surveillance of disaster-related toxic exposures and associated illnesses to enhance situational awareness during disaster response and recovery. Poison center data can also be leveraged during a disaster by local and state public health to supplement existing surveillance systems. Augmenting traditional surveillance data (ie, emergency room visits and death records) with other data sources, such as PCs, allows for better characterization of disaster-related morbidity and mortality. Poison center data can be used during a disaster to detect outbreaks, monitor trends, track particular exposures, and characterize the epidemiology of the event. This timely and accurate information can be used to inform public health decision making during a disaster and mitigate future disaster-related morbidity and mortality.WolkinA, SchnallAH, LawR, SchierJ. Using poison center data for postdisaster surveillance. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(5):1-4.

scholarly journals Use of technology for public health surveillance reporting: opportunities, challenges and lessons learnt from Kenya

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Njeru ◽  
David Kareko ◽  
Ngina Kisangau ◽  
Daniel Langat ◽  
Nzisa Liku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Reporting Rates ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Infectious diseases remain one of the greatest threats to public health globally. Effective public health surveillance systems are therefore needed to provide timely and accurate information for early detection and response. In 2016, Kenya transitioned its surveillance system from a standalone web-based surveillance system to the more sustainable and integrated District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2). As part of Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) initiatives in Kenya, training on use of the new system was conducted among surveillance officers. We evaluated the surveillance indicators during the transition period in order to assess the impact of this training on surveillance metrics and identify challenges affecting reporting rates. Methods: From February to May 2017, we analysed surveillance data for 13 intervention and 13 comparison counties. An intervention county was defined as one that had received refresher training on DHIS2 while a comparison county was one that had not received training. We evaluated the impact of the training by analysing completeness and timeliness of reporting 15 weeks before and 12 weeks after the training. A chi-square test of independence was used to compare the reporting rates between the two groups. A structured questionnaire was administered to the training participants to assess the challenges affecting surveillance reporting. Results: The completeness of reporting increased significantly after the training by 17 percentage points (from 45% to 62%) for the intervention group compared to 3 percentage points (49% to 52%) for the comparison group. Timeliness of reporting increased significantly by 21 percentage points (from 30% to 51%) for the intervention group compared to 7 percentage points (from 31% to 38%) for the comparison group. Major challenges identified for the low reporting rates included lack of budget support from government, lack of airtime for reporting, health workers strike, health facilities not sending surveillance data, use of wrong denominator to calculate reporting rates and surveillance officers being given other competing tasks. Conclusions: Training plays an important role in improving public health surveillance reporting. However, to improve surveillance reporting rates to the desired national targets, other challenges affecting reporting must be identified and addressed accordingly.

Innovative use of data sources: A Cross-sectional study of Data Linkage Practices across European Countries

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romana Haneef ◽  
Marie Delnord ◽  
Michel Vernay ◽  
Emmanuelle Bauchet ◽  
Rita Gaidelyte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Linked Data ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Data Linkage ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Data Governance ◽  
Use Of Data

Abstract Background The availability of data generated from different sources is increasing with the possibility to link these data sources together. However, linked administrative data can be complex to use and may require advanced expertise and skills in statistical analysis. The main objectives of this study were to describe the current use of data linkage at the individual level and the artificial intelligence (AI) in routine public health activities, and to identify the related health outcome and intervention indicators and determinants of health for non-communicable diseases. Method We performed a survey across European countries to explore the current practices applied by national institutes of public health and health information and statistics for innovative use of data sources (i.e., the use of data linkage and/or the AI). Results The use of data linkage and the AI at national institutes of public health and health information and statistics in Europe varies. The majority of European countries use data linkage in routine by applying a deterministic method or a combination of two types of linkages (i.e., deterministic & probabilistic) for public health surveillance and research purposes. The use of AI to estimate health indicators is not frequent at national institutes of public health and health information and statistics. Using linked data, 46 health outcome indicators related to seven health conditions, 34 indicators related to determinants and 23 to health interventions were estimated in routine. Complex data regulation laws, lack of human resources, skills and problems with data governance, were reported by European countries as obstacles to link different data sources in routine for public health surveillance and research. Conclusions Our results highlight that the majority of European countries have integrated data linkage in routine public health activities but a few use the AI. A sustainable national health information system and a robust data governance framework allowing to link different data sources are essential to support evidence-informed health policy development process. Building analytical capacity and awareness of the added value of data linkage in national institutes is necessary for improving the utilization of linked data in order to improve the monitoring of public health activities.

scholarly journals The impact of cell phones on public health surveillance

2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 799-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaohua Sean Hu ◽  
Lina Balluz ◽  
Michael P Battaglia ◽  
Martin R Frankel
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Cell Phones ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Assessing the public health impact of using poison center data for public health surveillance

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 646-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Wang ◽  
Royal Law ◽  
Rebecca Lyons ◽  
Ekta Choudhary ◽  
Amy Wolkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Impact ◽  
Poison Center ◽  
The Public

scholarly journals Use of technology for public health surveillance reporting: opportunities, challenges and lessons learnt from Kenya

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Njeru ◽  
David Kareko ◽  
Ngina Kisangau ◽  
Daniel Langat ◽  
Nzisa Liku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Reporting Rates ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Effective public health surveillance systems are crucial for early detection and response to outbreaks. In 2016, Kenya transitioned its surveillance system from a standalone web-based surveillance system to the more sustainable and integrated District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2). As part of Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) initiatives in Kenya, training on use of the new system was conducted among surveillance officers. We evaluated the surveillance indicators during the transition period in order to assess the impact of this training on surveillance metrics and identify challenges affecting reporting rates. Methods: From February to May 2017, we analysed surveillance data for 13 intervention and 13 comparison counties. An intervention county was defined as one that had received refresher training on DHIS2 while a comparison county was one that had not received training. We evaluated the impact of the training by analysing completeness and timeliness of reporting 15 weeks before and 12 weeks after the training. A chi-square test of independence was used to compare the reporting rates between the two groups. A structured questionnaire was administered to the training participants to assess the challenges affecting surveillance reporting. Results: The average completeness of reporting for the intervention counties increased from 45% to 62%, i.e. by 17 percentage points (95% CI 16.14 -17.86) compared to an increase from 49% to 52% for the comparison group, i.e. by 3 percentage points (95% CI 2.23 -3.77). The timeliness of reporting increased from 30% to 51%, i.e. by 21 percentage points (95% CI 20.16 - 21.84) for the intervention group, compared to an increase from 31% to 38% for the comparison group, i.e.by 7 percentage points (95% CI 6.27-7.73). Major challenges for the low reporting rates included lack of budget support from government, lack of airtime for reporting, health workers strike, health facilities not sending surveillance data, use of wrong denominator to calculate reporting rates and surveillance officers having other competing tasks. Conclusions: Training plays an important role in improving public health surveillance reporting. However, to improve surveillance reporting rates to the desired national targets, other challenges affecting reporting must be identified and addressed accordingly.

scholarly journals Public Health Surveillance for the Great American Solar Eclipse in Oregon

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurel Boyd ◽  
Meredith Jagger ◽  
Kathryn Kuspis ◽  
Melissa Powell ◽  
Sandy Giffin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Solar Eclipse ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Motor Vehicle Accidents ◽  
The State ◽  
Poison Center ◽  
Vehicle Accidents ◽  
Mass Gatherings

ObjectiveDevelop a public health surveillance plan for the Oregon Public Health Division (OPHD) in anticipation of the expected influx of visitors for the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse.IntroductionThe Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017 provided a rare opportunity to view a complete solar eclipse on the American mainland. Much of Oregon was in the path of totality and forecasted to have clear skies. Ahead of the event, OPHD aggregated a list of 107 known gatherings in mostly rural areas across the state, some with estimated attendance of up to 30,000 attendees. Temporary food vendors and a range of sanitation solutions (including open latrines) were planned. International travelers were expected, along with large numbers of visitors traveling by car on the day of the eclipse.The potential for multiple simultaneous mass gatherings across the state prompted OPHD to activate an incident management team (IMT) and to create a Health Intelligence Section to design a mass gathering surveillance strategy. Statewide syndromic surveillance (Oregon ESSENCE) has been used to monitor previous mass gatherings (1) and captures statewide emergency department (ED), urgent care, Oregon Poison Center, and reportable disease data.MethodsThe OPHD Health Intelligence Section identified five categories of public health effects associated with large outdoor gatherings based on literature review (2–5) and an internal risk assessment. These included health system status (total visit or call counts), communicable disease (fever, bloody diarrhea and reportable disease counts), injuries and substance abuse (including motor vehicle accidents), and outdoor exposure (heat-related illness, snake bites and asthma-related visits). An event-related category monitored trends in eclipse-related visits or eye-related injuries (looking directly at the sun). Where possible, syndromic trends were assessed in multiple data sources. These categories were used to create dashboards within Oregon ESSENCE and shared in a guidance document for local health departments and hospitals.Health Intelligence monitored syndromes of interest during a period of enhanced surveillance (9/18-9/22), and met daily with members of the OPHD IMT to share surveillance summaries, which were also sent to OPHD leadership and external partners.ResultsDuring the enhance surveillance period, the OPHD Health Intelligence Section did not identify statewide increases in healthcare utilization (total ED visits and calls to the Oregon Poison Center), but did observe increases in visits at select emergency departments in the state. Visits by out-of-state residents (as determined by patient zip code at time of registration) increased during the surveillance period. Fever-related visits increased as well but were not accompanied by reports of illnesses clusters.Increases were noted for motor vehicle accidents, eye-related injuries, and “eclipse”-related visits. Increases in eye-related injuries appeared to be an annual seasonal trend and not related to the eclipse. There were no increases of note in the other queries monitored. Development of new queries (West Nile Virus) was begun based upon mosquito pool surveillance findings. Surveillance highlights were posted publicly in a special edition of the biweekly Oregon ESSENCE Hazard Report (see Image 1).ConclusionsStatewide public health surveillance during the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse in Oregon did not identify clusters of infectious disease or other opportunities for real-time public health intervention. Nevertheless, surveillance identified increases in motor vehicle accidents, especially among out-of-state residents, due perhaps to increased road travel for the event. Preparations for this event increased capacity of state health department staff to conduct this type of surveillance in the future. Tools created for the eclipse have been used in several IMT activations since the eclipse.References1. Jagger MA, Jaramillo S, Boyd L, Johnson B, Reed KR, Powell M. Mass Gathering Surveillance : New ESSENCE Report and Collaboration Win Gold in OR. 2017;9(1):2579.2. WHO. Public Health for Mass Gatherings: Key Considerations. World Health Organization. 2015.3. Lombardo JS, Sniegoski CA, Loschen WA, Westercamp M, Wade M, Dearth S, et al. Public health surveillance for mass gatherings. Johns Hopkins APL Tech Dig (Applied Phys Lab. 2008;27(4):347–55.4. Polkinghorne BG, Massey PD, Durrheim DN, Byrnes T, MacIntyre CR. Prevention and surveillance of public health risks during extended mass gatherings in rural areas: The experience of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Australia. Public Health. 2013;127(1):32–8.5. Burdick TE. Wilderness event medicine: Planning for mass gatherings in remote areas. Vol. 3, Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2005. p. 249–58.

scholarly journals The Application of Internet-Based Sources for Public Health Surveillance (Infoveillance): Systematic Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana M Barros ◽  
Jim Duggan ◽  
Dietrich Rebholz-Schuhmann
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Search Queries ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Public health surveillance is based on the continuous and systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. This informs the development of early warning systems to monitor epidemics and documents the impact of intervention measures. The introduction of digital data sources, and specifically sources available on the internet, has impacted the field of public health surveillance. New opportunities enabled by the underlying availability and scale of internet-based sources (IBSs) have paved the way for novel approaches for disease surveillance, exploration of health communities, and the study of epidemic dynamics. This field and approach is also known as infodemiology or infoveillance. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to assess research findings regarding the application of IBSs for public health surveillance (infodemiology or infoveillance). To achieve this, we have presented a comprehensive systematic literature review with a focus on these sources and their limitations, the diseases targeted, and commonly applied methods. METHODS A systematic literature review was conducted targeting publications between 2012 and 2018 that leveraged IBSs for public health surveillance, outbreak forecasting, disease characterization, diagnosis prediction, content analysis, and health-topic identification. The search results were filtered according to previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS Spanning a total of 162 publications, we determined infectious diseases to be the preferred case study (108/162, 66.7%). Of the eight categories of IBSs (search queries, social media, news, discussion forums, websites, web encyclopedia, and online obituaries), search queries and social media were applied in 95.1% (154/162) of the reviewed publications. We also identified limitations in representativeness and biased user age groups, as well as high susceptibility to media events by search queries, social media, and web encyclopedias. CONCLUSIONS IBSs are a valuable proxy to study illnesses affecting the general population; however, it is important to characterize which diseases are best suited for the available sources; the literature shows that the level of engagement among online platforms can be a potential indicator. There is a necessity to understand the population’s online behavior; in addition, the exploration of health information dissemination and its content is significantly unexplored. With this information, we can understand how the population communicates about illnesses online and, in the process, benefit public health.

scholarly journals CDC Surveillance Strategy – A Strategy for Improving CDC Activities in Public Health Surveillance

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chesley Richards ◽  
Brian Lee
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Surveillance Strategy ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Health Surveillance Data ◽  
The Impact

Public health surveillance guides efforts to detect and monitor disease and injuries, assess the impact of interventions and assist in the management of and recovery from large-scale public health incidents. Actions informed by surveillance information take many forms, such as policy changes, new program interventions, public communications and investments in research. Local, state and federal public health professionals, government leaders, public health partners and the public are dependent on high quality, timely and actionable public health surveillance data. This Surveillance Strategy aims to improve overall surveillance capabilities, and by extension those of the public health system at large.

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